Supporters denied inputs in Mash East #zimbabwe

Officials who work for the government's
agricultural department, Agritex, along with the
police, are contributing to the politicization of
donated food and government inputs schemes in
Mashonaland East, it has been alleged.
According to Piniel Denga, the MDC-T Provincial
Chairman, their supporters continue to be denied
maize meal, seeds and other inputs that are
supposed to be distributed to all hungry villagers
in rural areas, regardless of their political affiliation.
Denga said earlier this week he received reports
that Agritex officials, especially one named Ngiza,
were turning away MDC-T supporters at a
distribution centre in Mhou, Chikomba West,
which he stressed was a ZANU PF stronghold.
"It was a Councillor and one Agritex official called
Mr. Ngiza who was very adamant. He said it is a
ZANU PF programme and not a government
programme. When I tried to phone he would not
answer his phone. It's so frustrating in the rural
areas," Denga told SW Radio Africa.
He added: "Desperate villagers are being denied
this support and when they report to the police
they are told this is a ZANU PF government and
you should know where your bread is being
buttered."
Denga also named Chief Nyamukoho as one of
the traditional leaders chasing away MDC-T
supporters from distribution points in the Mutoko
area and threatening to evict them from their
villages.
"They are saying if you come here we will
humiliate you, harass you and chase you away
because you are supporting regime change in
Zimbabwe. As chiefs we belong to ZANU PF and
the ZANU PF government supports us," Denga
explained.
The MDC-T provincial chairman said food
distribution is a humanitarian issue which
government should take seriously. He also
believes that the NGOs should assist all those
who are not being supported by government.
Traditional chiefs and sabhukus play a key role in
Zimbabwean culture and Denga said they used to
be respected individuals in rural communities but
they have "sold out" to ZANU PF.
"We are saying to our traditional leaders that as
MDC-T we also love them. We believe in our
traditions. But they must know that the money
they get comes from the taxes that we pay to
government. So they must assist all villagers
regardless of political persuasion".
Zimbabwe